Burned pregnant woman trial delayed for week

The trial for two men accused of conspiring to burn and shoot a woman was adjourned for a week Tuesday due to scheduling issues.

The trial for Jamal R. Rogers and Antonio V. Mathis, both 23, was supposed to start Tuesday with jury selection but delayed until next Tuesday in front of Judge Richard Caretti in Macomb County Circuit Court in Mount Clemens.

Attorneys involved in the case and the judge were concerned about the trial being spread out over three weeks. Starting Tuesday should ensure the trial will be completed within two weeks, attorneys said.

Attorneys also discussed a potential plea agreement for Mathis, but those discussions have broken off, said Mathisí attorney Joe Kosmala.

The two Warren men are accused in the May 26 attack on Latonya Bowman, who was pregnant with Rogerís child. They are charged with assault with intent to commit murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, unlawful imprisonment and conspiracy to commit unlawful imprisonment. They could face up to life in prison.

Rogers allegedly set up the attack on his girlfriend by going on a movie date with her before she dropped him off at his Sherman Avenue home in Warren. Rogersí roommate, Mathis, attacked Bowman. He bound her with duct tape, forced her into the back and drove her in her vehicle to Detroit, police said. Mathis allegedly poured lighter fluid on her and set her on fire, and after she rolled out of the vehicle, shot her twice in the torso. She managed to extinguish the flames by rolling on the ground while Mathis fled on foot. She drove to a nearby gas station.